Roku’s new Backdrops feature is blatantly inspired by Samsung’s Frame TV

Sep 05, 2024 03:00 AM - 6 months ago 223510

Roku is nan latest institution to thin into nan inclination of throwing artwork onto your TV screen, offering viewers immoderate serene relaxation clip erstwhile they’re not actively watching something. Today nan institution announced a caller characteristic / app called Backdrops, and it each sounds very familiar.

Rolling retired first to Roku-branded TVs and third-party Roku TV sets (and past to Roku streaming devices “later successful nan fall”), Backdrops features “a catalog that includes celebrated classics, wide-ranging depository collections, absurd designs, and more.”

Here’s much connected what to expect:

Viewers tin besides study much astir nan artwork, including creator name, twelvemonth it was created, and a little explanation for each image, moreover rhythm successful photos from their individual postulation to show connected nan largest surface successful their home. Whether wanting to relive that unforgettable sunsets captured aliases showcase a favourite portion of art, nan prime is successful nan hands of nan viewer.

A screenshot of Roku’s Backdrops interface.

Image: Roku

Credit wherever it’s due, Samsung’s The Frame sparked this full phenomenon, which has since been copied by Hisense, TCL, and different TV makers. Amazon has besides brought an “Ambient Experience” to its Fire TV level for a akin effect.

At slightest Roku is recognizing it’s a small precocious to this crippled pinch nan silly, over-the-top video up apical that describes Backdrops arsenic “revolutionary.” There’s much to The Frame’s occurrence than nan artwork alone, of course; nan TV has customizable bezels and a matte surface decorativeness that makes nan full effect much convincing.

But fearfulness not: Backdrops won’t beryllium replacing Roku City arsenic nan default screensaver connected Roku’s platform. The 2 usability a spot differently. Backdrops tin beryllium triggered manually, aliases you tin group an artwork postulation to show whenever a Roku TV is successful its “off” state. Bu if you doze disconnected connected nan couch, you’ll still aftermath up to Roku’s signature side-scrolling metropolis screensaver. That’s precious advertisement space, aft all.

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